Mathias Gidsel walked away from the 2026 EHF European Men's Handball Championship with both a gold medal and a place in the record books, after scoring 68 goals across the tournament — the highest single-edition total in the history of the men's event.
"Mathias Gidsel, 68 goals in total for him at this championship, to make him the highest scoring player in a single men's EHF Euro — which is a phenomenal record," the television commentators said as Denmark lifted the trophy.
The 26-year-old back-court star has become the most consistent big-tournament scorer in men's handball since his breakthrough at the 2021 World Championship. He was named World Handball Player of the Year in 2022 and 2023 and has been a fixture in every Danish international squad since.
His 2026 EHF EURO was a step above even those career highs. Gidsel averaged just over 7.5 goals a game across Denmark's nine matches, finishing with a shot efficiency comfortably above 75 percent. His combination of physicality, left-handed change of pace and cold finishing from seven metres overwhelmed defences across the tournament, including Germany's in the final.
"He's proving why I said that he's the best left back in the world at the moment," the commentators said during Denmark's run through the knockout rounds. "Wow. Wow. Wow."
The final in Cologne saw Gidsel partnered once again with fellow back-court finisher Emil Jakobsen, a combination that has been central to the Danish attack since Paris 2024. "Beats Bick and Jakobsen in this back court. They've been brilliant all day side by side, and they found a way through again."
Denmark's run also featured a deciding moment late in the final when Gidsel cashed in a fast break. "Two on the drop for him. Germany roaring back, within two now — oh, sorry, oh my goodness me," the commentators said as Denmark restored daylight with another Gidsel finish.
The tournament capped a dominant three-year international run for Denmark. The Danes are now the reigning World, Olympic and European champions — the first men's handball nation to hold all three trophies simultaneously. Gidsel has been the top scorer for his country in each of those tournaments.
The previous single-edition goal record at the men's EHF EURO was held by Norway's Sander Sagosen, who scored 65 in 2020.
The 2028 EHF EURO will be hosted by Switzerland, Austria and Poland. Denmark will arrive as defending champions.